Deuteronomy 28:64-66 NIV 

“Then the LORD will scatter you among all nations, from one end of the earth to the other. There you will worship other gods—gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known. Among those nations you will find no repose, no resting place for the sole of your foot. There the LORD will give you an anxious mind, eyes weary with longing, and a despairing heart. You will live in constant suspense, filled with dread both night and day, never sure of your life.” 

Last week in our “Heart” study we looked at a despairing or trembling heart.  This week I want to share with you some ideas on how to overcome a despairing heart should you find your heart in such a state. 

An antidote is defined as a medicine or other remedy for counteracting the effects of poison, disease, etc.  The following are my suggestions for doing just that. 

1.      Stay in the Word.

Joshua 1:8 NIV

“Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” 

The God of Genesis is the same as the God of Revelations!  He knows, He reigns, and He loves.  I personally have had my eyes opened to the fact or realization and understanding of whom God is.  He is God the Father of all scripture.  Reading scripture and having Him open my eyes to Him and His ways throughout scriptures gives me a clear view of the depth of His love.  So, when you find your heart in despair, draw close to Him and He will draw near to you.  His Word is alive (Hebrews 4:12). 

2.      Take every thought captive.  

2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 

A complete series of books could be and probably have been written on the power of one’s thoughts.  I know a despairing heart can contribute to wayward thoughts, and this ultimately leads to additional wayward thoughts.  Man is not stupid.  We know when we are entertaining thoughts that are not what they should be.  Realize it, and then align your thoughts back with the Word. 

3.      Finally, and I can not stress this enough, find yourself one or two Godly individuals of integrity that you can go to and confess, talk, laugh and cry.  I have two such men in my life, Ryan and Brad.  For that, I am so very thankful.  They know me inside and out.  I honestly believe many a man chooses to remain in self-inflicted captivity because they refuse to humble themselves before others and be real.  That is often tied directly to them not having those one or two confidants to which they can turn in all seasons of life.    

In conclusion, we have taken a quick look at a despairing heart, learned some of the causes and cures.  My desire is that you will be aware and with that awareness be prepared so that you will guard and protect your heart.   

Join me praising God for and praying for the following.

1. Huge praise!  The PHM 2009 Board of Directors met this week.  The meal, fellowship and meeting were all enjoyable.  Thank you board members for your honest guidance and direction!  Thank you for pushing us, challenging us, stretching us as individuals and as leaders of PureHeart Ministry.

2.  Pray for Brad, Ryan and me as we work together to accomplish the recommendations and path forward from the meeting.

3.  Pray for the men who are partnered with PHM.  Pray for them as they continue down this road to complete freedom in Christ.

4.  Pray for ministry opportunities to share the heart and soul of PureHeart with others who might be interested. 

5.  Praise God for His unfailing love, grace and mercy.   

Sharing from the HeartSteve

Deuteronomy 28:64-66 NIV

 “Then the LORD will scatter you among all nations, from one end of the earth to the other. There you will worship other gods—gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known. Among those nations you will find no repose, no resting place for the sole of your foot. There the LORD will give you an anxious mind, eyes weary with longing, and a despairing heart. You will live in constant suspense, filled with dread both night and day, never sure of your life.” 

Today we are continuing our “Heart” study by looking at a despairing or trembling heart.  We will focus our attention on verse 65.  However, I pulled in all three for the full effect. 

At first glance, I am struck by the gut wrenching observation that these three verses could be used to describe many today; many a man, many a church body.   Scattered, turned away from the One True God, finding no repose, no rest, no solid footing.  Only anxiety, weary eyes with longing and ….. a despairing heart! 

According to the Hebrew transliteration, raggaz is the word from which the word despairing is derived.  Raggaz means, quivering, quaking, and trembling.   

I do not know about you but I know personally how this feels.  It is very scary to find yourself in a state where the heart is despairing.  Regardless of one’s situation or circumstance, any time we turn away from the One and Only and bow down to other gods, the end result will always be a despairing heart, especially for believers.  Non-believers live in a constant state of despairing hearts, they just are not aware of it.  Why?  Because there is no substitute for God.  There is no short cutting His commands.  When man tries, there is a price to pay. 

According to www.dictionary.com, the word despair means to lose, give up or be without hope.  Similar feelings of disheartenment, desperation, despondency, discouragement, helplessness refer to a state of mind caused by circumstances that seem too much to cope with. 

Hope for a Despairing Heart

Personally, I have found that a heart transformed by God and His Word is never the same as it was previously.  The transformation that has and continues to take place in my heart over the past several years has renewed it like nothing I have ever experienced.  Rebellion looses its fulfillment.  The heart longs for more and more of His filling. 

Even in seasons of doubt, fear and despair, the heart’s cry resounds.  The past few months I have experienced a despairing heart.  I have felt like I imagine Job must have felt when Satan was granted permission to advance or increase his attacks on Job’s life.  I praise God for the discerning spirit within me to see what is taking place.  Here are a few of the activities in my life this year that contributed to increased spiritual attacks by the Enemy that have lead to my despairing heart.  As you read them, see if you can look with discerning eyes and heart and understand why our Enemy would not like what is taking place.

2009 - January

• I started a daily Bible in a Year reading plan.  I have never been motivated or moved to do so until now.  The Enemy despises the Word of God.
• Fire Proof couples devotion.  Prayer partner Dina Parris gave Jana and me the devotional for Christmas.  It is a powerful journey.  The Enemy hates efforts to strengthen marriages, especially those who are in any kind of Kingdom impacting ministry.
• My book.  Not sure if you are aware but I have a book in the works.  Actually, it’s been in the works for two or three years.  I was challenged to pick it back up and get it completed.  So I did.  I was enthused and excited about doing so.  Whatever is in it must be threatening to the Enemy.  All kinds of obstacles have presented themselves. 
• The Russell family made a hard decision to leave our home church of seventeen years and search for one that would provide a place in which all four of us could be ministered to and provide an opportunity to use our God given gifts, talents and passions.  Again, our Enemy loves to hold God’s children captive, not only to the bondages of sin but religion, membership and the fear of man and man’s thoughts.
• PureHeart Ministries:  The New Year brought with it a new and renewed excitement for the call God placed our hearts some six years ago.  Again, God desires and longs for His children to step out in wholehearted obedience regardless to whether the world appreciates or understands.  PureHeart Ministries is the fruit of three men doing exactly that and ministering in heart areas that our Enemy would just assume have left alone. 

 Whew, five significant events or activities that began in 2009.  Standing alone, each has the potential to have significant Kingdom impact, combined…well, let’s just say…I’m not surprised by the heightened spiritual attacks.  However, expecting it and standing firm under it are two completely separate things.  I praise God for Ryan and Brad.  They are my Aaron and Hur!!! 

Our Enemy knows where to strike and strike he does.  He always strikes at our weakest point.  That is why we at PHM strive to minster God’s complete and total healing to each who will partner with us, healing in the inner most part. 

Is there any wonder the heart can find itself in a state of despair? 

Next note will cover an antidote for a despairing heart.   

Join me praising and praying to God for the following: 

1.      Praise Him for the beautiful weather we’ve been having. 

2.      I praise Him for a safe and enjoyable trip to Colorado.  While there, I stopped by to visit friend and prayer partner, Naomi Mueller.  Colorado trips are spiritually refreshing to me.  There’s just something about those mountains!

3.      Pray for the PHM leadership team.  We will be hosting our board of directors on Tuesday, June 2 for dinner and meeting.  Pray for guidance, direction and God’s anointing in our time together.

4.      Pray for the young men that are partnering with PHM. 

5.      Pray for Brad, Ryan and me.  Pray for life balance.  Pray for our wives and children.   

Sharing from the Heart;

Steve

Deuteronomy 17:17 NIV 

“He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.” 

Moses’ words are conveyed to the Israelites concerning their King and his qualifications. Reading along, my attention is captivated by this verse. A cause-and-effect verse, if you will. Right there after the instruction that the King over the Israelites is not to acquire a great number of horses for himself or have the people return to Egypt to get them! The King shouldn’t have many wives! From horses to heartbreak. Smack, right there in the effect portion of the verse...”He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray....” 

Several things catch my attention. First, the words of Moses from the Lord state clearly that the King’s heart can be lead astray by multiple wives. I realize times have changed, but I for one can not imagine why any man in his right mind would want more than one wife! But this is the word of our LORD! Why would such a statement be included? Let me share my thoughts and understanding. 

Over the past few months God has been opening my eyes to a scriptural truth. In order to get it we must return to Genesis 1:1 NIV: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. “ God is translated from the Hebrew 'elohiym. God reveals various names for Himself in the OT to reveal different qualities or aspects of His total being. Elohiym is our universal creator. From nothing He created everything, including in verse 26 where man was created.  

Continuing in Genesis, at 6:5 we reflect on the opening passage used in the “Heart Study Series:” “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually”

Piecing this together, our Universal Creator knew and knows His creation! I take comfort in knowing that my creator knows me. He knows my strengths, weaknesses, when I'm standing solid and when I'm vulnerable. So it is with the words God gave to Moses concerning the King over Israel. Multiple wives would lead him astray.  

PureHeart Ministries ministers to hearts lead astray. Many have been lead astray by man's own hurts, wounds and the lies they have chosen to listen to over the Truth found in God's word. We can not honestly and humbly minister to hearts astray without first understanding our own hearts and just how vulnerable they can be. 

I would be wrong if I did not share just how subtle this “leading astray” can be. I honestly believe our Enemy has mastered the art of deception in this age. 

Following are the PHM pillars that uphold us as we, with God's divine guidance, attempt to minister God's love, grace and mercy to the “lead astray heart.” 

Prayer, Accountability, Mentoring, Shepherding all in a Community that is safe and non-judgmental.

We do what we do by being sensitive to the Spirit and the person. 

We ask tough questions and listen with open, sensitive ears. 

In all we do, we constantly point them back to the One from which they strayed, Jesus. 

Sharing from the Heart;Steve